79 XT500

[scottyS3]

So this might be a slow build thread but I was so inspired by all the people making trackers in this section I can't leave her stock. I plan on keeping all the original parts and not making any permanent changes to the bikes frame. So more of a bolt on build for sake of the bike.

I found it on a classified site out here in Ut. 6k original miles, she hadn't been run in about 10 years. Cleaned the carb, changed the oil, fresh gas, she fired up 4th kick. Idles perfectly, its kinda nuts how well it runs haha. She has a few oil leaks but I might do a motor tear down this winter, until then Im just riding and checking the level!

I just bought new tires, shinko 244s, so I dont really plan on changing the rim sizes. This will be a around town hooligan bike/camping desert sled/canyon beater, so it will be an all around bike.
I plan on getting some fat bars
Modifying the exhaust-Kind of want to go the low SR route but I want to keep my skid plate. so maybe the swept back motolanna? Or get another XT header and chop it before the carb and have an outside the frame scrambler style system.
Custom seat for sure- Hopefully I can find a thrashed xt seat and modify it
Taillight/rear fender- I want to change this up some how, smaller taillight and more upswept rear fender

Any ways those are my "plans", might be a while before I actually do any of them since it is such a fun bike to Ride!!

 

[scottyS3]

Well it has started. I ordered the MotoLanna Swept back sr500 header in hopes that it will only take a bit of modification to the skid plate to be able to keep the skid plate. for the muffler I ordered a 17" reverse cone megaphone from Dime City.

Should still retain quite a bit of ground clearance. More pics when I actually get her together

 

[scottyS3]

So here is an update. I got new smaller turn signals with 6volt bulbs. She passed inspections and is legally on the road!! More than I can say for most of the crap cafes I have built. I took my first longer ride 2 days ago, she ran great, stalled once or twice bc of altitude I think, so I got really familiar with the hot start on the carb. I had some fatbar adapters lying around from an older project so I bought some bars and new grips. Havent really tested them yet.
I got my Dime City exhaust in the mail last week, still waiting on the motolanna header. I just did a quick mock up for your viewing pleasure.
First legal ride!

Tested out the rear rack, it works.

New bars and grips

Exhaust mock up

 

[JustinLonghorn]

I love this bike.

 

[CurtisR]

haha awesome PBR pic!
I'll be watching this one.

 

[scottyS3]

Thanks guys, I cant wait for that header to get in so I can get that exhaust set up. She is wayyyyy too quiet haha. I hope I dont need to do a lot of rejetting.

 

[Ease]

Awesome!

Love old dirtbikes, check mine out!

 

[scottyS3]

So Today I recieved my MotoLanna header in!!! As soon as I got home I went to work!
here it was it looked like before the bike

It didnt fit perfectly, The diameter of the muffler was a bit to large and hit the lower peg mount. It doesnt look that bad, but it isnt perfectly straight. But I dont care, It sounds AMAZING!!!!!!!!! The only thing I had to do after the pics is remove the front fender because the rear of it touched the header. I dont really want to destroy the original one so I will find a beat up dirtbike one some where, or keep running fenderless, doesnt rain much here in Utah.

 

[Nojokirk 75cl360]

do you have this bike posted on YamahaEnduro.com?

 

[scottyS3]

Yo man I dont, Should I ?

 

[Nojokirk 75cl360]

Yeah, its a cool website, i have my dt250 on there

 

[scottyS3]

Sweet site man! Looks mostly 2smoke though. Still some sweet threads! So Gald to see ppl still rockin those old smokers

 

[scottyS3]

Sans fender, now just need to work on my seat and tail section. I want to make a bratstyle cut-n-roll seat, already have a new taillight on the way, and I want to pickup another mx rear fender to cut down. I am trying to keep all the stock parts intact.

 

[scottyS3]

Some more updates...

 

[Ease]

79 XT500

Looks great! Cool pics.

 

[Ric in Richmond]

That has a great look to it. Sure it sounds awesome too!

I toy with street tracking mine but just can't pull the trigger.

 

[crackerman]

New pipe looks nice.

Cool bike. Never seen one of these.

 

[brandonBZ]

What kind of handlebars are those?

 

[oldnbroken]

Thanks for the memories. My first "big bike" was a XT500C It was rougher than yours when I bought it second hand in the early 80's and I hammered it to death on road and trail. When it finally stopped running I swapped it for a plastic bag with some sort of stuff in it. I am thinking that when I finish the two bikes I am on now I will go searching the country for one again. and stick to simple changes like you are.